Athletics, Cycling, Sambo athletes present medals to minister.

The athletes were honoured during a ceremony at the conference hall of the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, where the nation’s latest medal winners were recognised for their achievements.

The reception brought together members of the national cycling and sambo teams as well as sprinter, Emmanuel Eseme, who recently distinguished himself on the continental and international stage.

The minister used the occasion to convey the nation’s appreciation for the performances recorded in the three disciplines.

Among those celebrated was Rodrigue Kuere Nounawe, winner of the 22nd International Cycling Tour of Cameroon. 

The cyclist claimed victory in five of the competition’s ten stages and secured the yellow jersey after finishing first in the overall classification. 

The national sambo team was also recognised after its strong showing at the African Sambo Championships in Cairo, Egypt. 

Cameroon finished second among 25 participating nations with a total of nine medals, comprising four gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

Speaking during the ceremony, the President of the Cameroon Sambo Federation, François Mbassi, said the recognition reflected the value placed on athletes’ efforts and achievements.

“It is an expression of the nation’s recognition for the efforts made by our athletes. We are pursuing a vision of making sambo a popular sport in Cameroon, behind football, by 2028,” Mbassi said.

On his part, African sambo champion Nji Moluh Seidou, who won the title in the combat sambo under-98kg category, said the athletes hoped their achievements would inspire young people and support the growth of the sport.

“We have become a source of motivation for young people. We hope that through this gesture, we will be able to earn a living from what we do,” Nji Moluh Seidou noted.

The ceremony also highlighted the achievements of Emmanuel Eseme, the African 100m champion. 

The sprinter recently added silver and bronze medals from Diamond League meetings in Rome, Italy, and Ostrava, Czech Republic, to his growing list of honours.

Concluding the event, Minister Mouelle Kombi praised the athletes for their performances and presented performance certificates to each recipient and their technical staff.

“Your performances demonstrate that Cameroon remains a leading sporting nation. Through your achievements, you are sending a strong message of perseverance, discipline, patriotism and the constant pursuit of excellence to Cameroonian youth,” Minister Mouelle Kombi stated.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3832 of Monday June 29, 2026